Lottery scams hit San Diego, Escondido

Jul 11, 2014, 10:53 am (21 comments)

Scam Alert

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — San Diego police asked for the public's help in catching Spanish-speaking con artists who swindle people out of money by offering them a cut of supposed lottery winnings, and Escondido police said a similar scam has fleeced residents in that city.

The couple operating in San Diego claim to be from Costa Rica. They have taken about $52,000 from at least four victims in recent months, police said. Both were described a light-skinned Hispanics; the man, is his 30s or 40s, is thin, and the woman, believed to be in her mid 30s, is heavyset.

The pair tell strangers they won a lottery but cannot collect the winnings because they are illegally in the United States, then persuades the victim to help pay "fees" to get part of prize. In one case, the thieves drove a victim to her home to get cash, then stole more money and jewelry while there, police said.

Anyone with more information as to the names or whereabouts of the suspects were asked to call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or to send tips via email to sdcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to a $1,000.

Escondido investigators said crooks in their city have been targeting Spanish speakers along East Valley Parkway, east of Ash Street, with a very similar swindle, Lt. Eric Skaja said. One of the con artiss, generally a woman, approaches a victim and pretends to need assistance in cashing a winning lottery ticket. Soon an accomplice, usually male, approaches and offers to help, Skaja said.

The second swindler then telephones a third who poses as lottery official. That person backs up the story of the other two but claims that "taxes" and "fees" must be paid for the lottery money to be released.

The crooks convince the victim to withdraw a sizable amount of money from the bank and give it to them so they can make the supposed payments, with the promise that they will repay four to five times the amount of the investment.

After the victim gives the thieves money, they disappear, the lieutenant said.

Anyone approached by people making such claims was urged to immediately call police and try to provide detailed descriptions of the perpetrators and any vehicle they may be driving.

News story photo(Click to display full-size in gallery)

Fox 5 San Diego

Comments

Get paid's avatarGet paid

I really don,t belive we still have people falling for this one. smh.

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

I'll tell ya what Mr. illegal. I'll cash it for ya and take my cut right off the top...

What's that ? you don't work that way ?

okay let's see.. I got the I.C.E.  phone # right here. LMAO !

lottoguysocal's avatarlottoguysocal

they're literally taking the internet scam public...people are really falling for it and they shouldn't be...

Stack47

The second swindler then telephones a third who poses as lottery official. That person backs up the story of the other two but claims that "taxes" and "fees" must be paid for the lottery money to be released.

The first time I hit the pick-4 a bank teller said I had to pay a $10 fee upfront and I told her the Ohio lottery told me the bank would deduct the fee from my winnings. I knew I had to pay the $10, but couldn't see any logical reason why they couldn't just pay me $2590 instead of me giving her $10 and paying me $2600.

Maybe it's because I understand a lottery's payoff process, but how gullible can person be to believe they must pay the taxes before collecting their winnings?

Feisty1

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 11, 2014

The second swindler then telephones a third who poses as lottery official. That person backs up the story of the other two but claims that "taxes" and "fees" must be paid for the lottery money to be released.

The first time I hit the pick-4 a bank teller said I had to pay a $10 fee upfront and I told her the Ohio lottery told me the bank would deduct the fee from my winnings. I knew I had to pay the $10, but couldn't see any logical reason why they couldn't just pay me $2590 instead of me giving her $10 and paying me $2600.

Maybe it's because I understand a lottery's payoff process, but how gullible can person be to believe they must pay the taxes before collecting their winnings?

WTF?  What's the $10 fee for?  You couldn't just deposit the check and get the full amount?

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by Feisty1 on Jul 11, 2014

WTF?  What's the $10 fee for?  You couldn't just deposit the check and get the full amount?

If you win between $600 and $5,000, take your winning ticket to a retailer location, where you will receive a Pay to Bearer ticket. At this point, you have two options: Obtain a claim form from the agent retailer, or download here. Follow the instructions carefully. Your retailer will have a list of bank-cashing locations in your area where you may receive payment by presenting proper identification (see below). Please note that the banks currently charge a processing fee of $10 for this service.

I had to check but it looks like the Ohio banks are still charging a $10 processing fee. And if you think that's odd, look at this:

Jackpot winners of the Mega Millions, Powerball and Classic Lotto games should call their nearest Ohio Lottery regional office to make an appointment to submit the claim.

"make an appointment"?

Feisty1

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 11, 2014

If you win between $600 and $5,000, take your winning ticket to a retailer location, where you will receive a Pay to Bearer ticket. At this point, you have two options: Obtain a claim form from the agent retailer, or download here. Follow the instructions carefully. Your retailer will have a list of bank-cashing locations in your area where you may receive payment by presenting proper identification (see below). Please note that the banks currently charge a processing fee of $10 for this service.

I had to check but it looks like the Ohio banks are still charging a $10 processing fee. And if you think that's odd, look at this:

Jackpot winners of the Mega Millions, Powerball and Classic Lotto games should call their nearest Ohio Lottery regional office to make an appointment to submit the claim.

"make an appointment"?

That is RIDICULOUS ... Its hard enough to win and then they want to take fees off the top!  They're just as bad as these scam artists ... and that may be why people are still falling for the type of scam this article speaks of!!!  Sheesh.  And I thought NJ & CA were bad for making you wait 3 weeks to get your check ...

HaveABall's avatarHaveABall

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 11, 2014

If you win between $600 and $5,000, take your winning ticket to a retailer location, where you will receive a Pay to Bearer ticket. At this point, you have two options: Obtain a claim form from the agent retailer, or download here. Follow the instructions carefully. Your retailer will have a list of bank-cashing locations in your area where you may receive payment by presenting proper identification (see below). Please note that the banks currently charge a processing fee of $10 for this service.

I had to check but it looks like the Ohio banks are still charging a $10 processing fee. And if you think that's odd, look at this:

Jackpot winners of the Mega Millions, Powerball and Classic Lotto games should call their nearest Ohio Lottery regional office to make an appointment to submit the claim.

"make an appointment"?

Stack47, do you mean to indicate that you had a long-time savings or checking account with a bank or credit union, and their teller and management informed you that you couldn't simply deposit your lottery headquarters check for free ... and then, immediately, be able to withdraw a much smaller amount (10% or so) without waiting the usual full 7-10 calendar days for the check to clear and ability to withdraw the remainder amount?

What?

mediabrat's avatarmediabrat

Quote: Originally posted by Stack47 on Jul 11, 2014

If you win between $600 and $5,000, take your winning ticket to a retailer location, where you will receive a Pay to Bearer ticket. At this point, you have two options: Obtain a claim form from the agent retailer, or download here. Follow the instructions carefully. Your retailer will have a list of bank-cashing locations in your area where you may receive payment by presenting proper identification (see below). Please note that the banks currently charge a processing fee of $10 for this service.

I had to check but it looks like the Ohio banks are still charging a $10 processing fee. And if you think that's odd, look at this:

Jackpot winners of the Mega Millions, Powerball and Classic Lotto games should call their nearest Ohio Lottery regional office to make an appointment to submit the claim.

"make an appointment"?

Of course you have to make an appointment.  If you simply show up unannounced, there's no guarantee that the Lottery will be able to get the media to HQ in time to ambush you on your way out.  Smash

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by HaveABall on Jul 11, 2014

Stack47, do you mean to indicate that you had a long-time savings or checking account with a bank or credit union, and their teller and management informed you that you couldn't simply deposit your lottery headquarters check for free ... and then, immediately, be able to withdraw a much smaller amount (10% or so) without waiting the usual full 7-10 calendar days for the check to clear and ability to withdraw the remainder amount?

What?

The Ohio Lottery used an Ohio bank to pay winning tickets between $600 and $5000, but that was the last step. Any retailer could validate the ticket and fill out a claims form, the player got the form notarized, and then took the form and the "pay to bearer" ticket to the Lottery designated bank. The bank charged a $10 processing fee.

I probably was the first person who took "pay to bearer" ticket to that bank and obviously the first for that teller. The bank eventually simplified the process by notarizing claims form which included a W-2G and would pay in check, cash, or both. All for a $10 processing fee.

The Kentucky Lottery use cashing agents and it takes about 10 minutes to cash $5000 ticket with no processing fee.

Stack47

Quote: Originally posted by mediabrat on Jul 11, 2014

Of course you have to make an appointment.  If you simply show up unannounced, there's no guarantee that the Lottery will be able to get the media to HQ in time to ambush you on your way out.  Smash

LOL

TnTicketlosers's avatarTnTicketlosers

Wait till you have to deal with these people in Tennessee then you got something to complain about.

sully16's avatarsully16

Never ending supply of rotten people.

noise-gate

My "Guess" is  that these Spanish speaking con artists are speaking to other illegal immigrants who sympathize with their plight and are gullible enough to let these folks rob them. San Diego just added themselves to the growing list of sucker cities.

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